Living Colour : Vivid

Rock / USA
(1988 - Epic Records)
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Lyrics

1. CULT OF PERSONALITY

Look in my eyes, what do you see
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be
I'm the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set me free

I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your TV
I'm the cult of personality
I exploit you, still you love me
I told you one and one make three
I'm the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I'm the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a Nobel Prize
A leader speaks, that leader dies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
I'm the cult of personality


2. I WANT TO KNOW

Baby you stole my heart
I don't know what to do
Got one problem on my mind
Do you feel the way I do

I want to know
Give me a sign girl
Open your heart and tell me that you're mine

When you walk down the street
The cats don't even make a noise
They worship at your feet
Acting just like little boys

I'm standing in the shadows baby

I got one thing that's on my mind
Gonna make you love me baby
If it takes the rest of my life

I want to know
Give me a sign girl
Open your heart and tell me that you're mine

It takes a lot of guts to show you how I feel
About you
Just say the words and let me know it's real
Or is it just a dream

I'm very patient baby
And I've got a lot of time
I can see a clear horizon
You and me standing side by side

I want to know


3. MIDDLE MAN

I don't have a need to be the best
Don't want to be just like the rest
Just stay who I am
Just an ordinary middle man

Give me the happy medium
Don't want to be the one whose leading them
I've got no master plan
Just a simple Middle man

Standing on a fine line between this and that
Just biding my time waiting for a sign
To tell me that I'm something special

My ideas are mine alone
Not yours, not theirs, but I care
I hurt for you, but not with you
I love that thing that's inside you
But I'm not your fan
I'm a stranger in a strange land
I'm your middle man

But I'm not your fan
I'm a stranger in a strange land
I am your middle man

Middle man yeah, yeah
I'm not your fan
I'm just a middle man
Yours, theirs, but I care
I've got no master plan
Just stay who I am
Just a middle man


4. DESPERATE PEOPLE

I see you crying in the sunshine
I hear you laughing in the rain
You say you can't tell any difference
Between the pleasure and the pain

You say you never ever dream at night time
You say you only dream when you're awake
And say that T.V. looks like your life
And the life you lead is fake

Desperate People
Desperate People

You get your sunshine from a tab of paper
Then you're sitting in a spinning room
The clock is tocking and it's laughing at you
Your life's a mystery without a clue

The crowd you're in thinks you're so amusing
They're oh so flattering and so sincere
They stand and laugh as they watch you crumble
And when you cry for help they don't hear

Desperate People
Desperate People

You feel the earth revolving
You see the sun dissolving
You hear the night calling out to you
You have no direction and you have no protection
What you gonna do when your trip turns blue?
When you come crashing down and there's no help around
You need friends, you need help
But first you have to help yourself

The music stops and the party's over
The money's gone and your crowd is too
Can't break the chains that have kept you under
Has the monkey got the best of you

I see you crying in the sunshine
I hear you laughing in the rain
You say you can't tell any difference
Between the pleasure and the pain

Desperate People


5. OPEN LETTER (TO A LANDLORD)

Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see

This is my neighborhood
This is where I come from
I call this place my home
You call this place a slum
You wanna run the people out
This is what you're all about
Treat poor people just like trash
Turn around and make big cash

Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see

Last month there was a fire
I saw seven children die
You sent flowers to their families
But your sympathy's a lie
'Cause every building that you burn
Is more blood money that you earn
We are forced to relocate
From the pain that you create

Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see
Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see

We lived here for so many years
Now this house is full of fear
For a profit you will take control
Where will all the older people go
There used to be when kids could play
Without the scourge of drug's decay
Now our kids are living dead
They crack and blow their lives away

Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see
Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see

You've got to fight
You've got to fight
You've got to fight
For your neighborhood

You've got to fight
For your neighbor


6. FUNNY VIBE

No, I'm not gonna rob you
No, I'm not gonna beat you
No, I'm not gonna rape you
So why you want to give me that
Funny Vibe

No, I'm not gonna hurt you
No, I'm not gonna harm you
And I try not to hate you
So why you want to give me that
Funny Vibe


7. MEMORIES CAN’T WAIT

Do you remember here
No you don't remember anything at all
I'm here flat on my back
Never woke up, had no regrets

There's a party in my mind
And I hope it never stops
They party all the time
Gonna party till they drop

Other people can go home
Other people they can split
I can never stop
I can never quit

Take a walk through the land of the shadows
Take a walk through the peaceful meadows
Don't look so disappointed
Isn't what you hoped for is it

There's a party in my mind
And I hope it never stops
I'm stuck here in this seat
And I may not stand up

Other people can go home
Other people they can split
I can never stop
I can never quit

Everything is quiet
Everyone's gone to sleep
I'm wide awake
But these memories
These memories can't wait

These memories can't wait


8. BROKEN HEARTS

I see the fragments of a dream I used to have
And bits of aspiration lying in the sand
The stained glass wall of love that I cannot see through
Provides the only light here in my lonely room

A breeze reminds me of a changing time and place
A tear that takes forever rolls down your timeless face

I hear they say that broken hearts will mend
But when they do they're never good as new
I wish right now I could change it back
I never meant to do the things I did to hurt you

I never really thought that it would come to this
Sometimes the things you lose are often the things you miss
I see the reason for things I used to do
They're all transparent now and so I see the truth

I hear they say that broken hearts will mend
But when they do they're never good as new
I wish right now that I could change it back
I know you don't believe but I care about you
And I never meant to do the things I did to hurt you


9. GLAMOUR BOYS

The glamour boys swear they are a diva
The glamour boys have it all under control
Always dancing and always laughing
The glamour boys are playing the role

The glamour boys never have no money
The glamour boys wear the most expensive clothes
The glamour boys are always at the party
Where the money comes from heaven only knows

I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy

The glamour boys live off their ambition
The glamour boys have it all figured out
A very, very dubious position
When you got no clout

The glamour boys' whole life is a gamble
They might get over or fall flat on their face
But if one does, there's no need to worry
Another G-Boy will take his place

I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy

The glamour boys don't think about tomorrow
The glamour boys just need tonight to play
But just like things you can't afford on credit
Time catches up and you have to pay

The glamour boys are always on the guest list
You'll always find them in the hottest spots in town
They'll be your friend if you have fame or fortune
If you don't they won't be hanging 'round.

I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy

I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - oh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - no no

What do you mean my credit's no good ?


10. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOUR BABY?

What's your favorite color baby?

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

Well, is it Red?
That's what I said
Well, is it Gold?
You gotsa me sold
Well, is it Green?
That's mighty mean
Well, is it Black?
Get back

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?

Is it White?
Get out of sight
Well, is it Blue?
Ha, well that's 0 for 2
Well, is it Pink?
That's what I think
Well, is it Brown?
Ha, well stick around

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour

What's your favorite color baby?
Living Colour


11. WICH WAY TO AMERICA

I look at the T.V.
Your America's doing well
I look out the window
My America's catching hell

I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America

I change the channel
Your America's doing fine
I read the headlines
My America's doing time

I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America

Go west young, go west young man

Don't want to crossover
But how do I keep from going under

Where is my picket fence
My long, tall glass of lemonade
Where is my VCR, my stereo, my T.V. show?

I look at the T.V.
I don't see your America
I look out the window
I don't see your America

I want to know how to get to your America
I want to know how to get to your America
America

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